Physiological roles of fatty acyl desaturases and elongases in marine fish: Characterisation of cDNAs of fatty acyl delta6 desaturase and elovl5 elongase of cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

In the present paper, we investigated the expression of fatty acyl desaturase and elongase genes in a marine teleost, cobia, a species of great interest due to its considerable aquaculture potential. A cDNA was cloned that, when expressed in yeast, was shown to result in desaturation of 18:3n-3 and 18:2n-6, indicating that it coded for a Δ6 desaturase enzyme. Very low desaturation of 20:4n-3 and 20:3n-6 indicated only trace Δ5 activity. Another cloned cDNA enabled elongation of 18:4n-3, 18:3n-6, 20:5n-3 and 20:4n-6 in the yeast expression system, indicating that it had C18-20 and C20-22 elongase activity. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that it was homologous to human ELOVL5 elongase. However, the cobia Elovl5 elongase also had low activity toward C24 HUFA. The cobia Δ6 desaturase had a preference for 18:3n-3, but the elongase was generally equally active with both n-3 and n-6 substrates. Expression of both genes was 1-2 orders of magnitude greater in brain than other tissues suggesting an important role, possibly to ensure sufficient docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) synthesis in neural tissues through elongation and desaturation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3)

Diverse Applications of Nanomedicine

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic. \ua9 2017 American Chemical Society

Social media comparison and body image dissatisfaction among adolescents

The popularity of newer social media technologies such as social networking sites (SNSs) have changed the media landscape and people's media consumption patterns. This shift has elicited new questions about familiar associations within the paradigm of mass media effects research. Extant studies on body image have shown the influence of media and peers on people 's body image concerns, especially among the young. While social media has assumed increasing prominence in people's everyday lives, its impact on their body image remains largely undetermined. This study applies social comparison theory to examine the associations between adolescents' engagement in comparison with friends and celebrities on online social media and their body image dissatisfaction, as well as their drive to be thin or muscular. The study also looks at celebrity involvement as a predictor of the outcome variables. The hypotheses in this study were tested using survey data collected from 1,060 adolescents in Singapore. Regression analyses indicate that social comparison with friends on online social media was significantly associated with adolescents' body image dissatisfaction and drive for thinness or muscularity. Gender differences were also observed - social comparison with celebrities was significantly related to body image dissatisfaction and the drive for thinness among female adolescents. Celebrity involvement was a significant predictor of male body image dissatisfaction. Theoretically, the context of this study contributes to the development of a non-Western perspective in existing media effects and body image research. Overall, findings indicate that online social media use is related to adolescents' body image dissatisfaction, and highlight the need for more reflection on gender differences in direction and target group in social comparison. Practical implications for policymakers and educators were discussed.​Master of Communication Studie

Applying the theory of planned behavior and media dependency theory : predictors of public pro-environmental behavioral intentions in Singapore

Applying the theory of planned behavior and media dependency theory, this study examines the effects of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, media dependency, traditional media attention, Internet attention, and interpersonal communication on two types of proenvironmental behaviors—green-buying and environmental civic engagement. Regression analysis of a nationally representative survey of adult Singaporeans (N = 1,168) indicated that attitude, perceived behavioral control, media dependency, traditional media attention, and interpersonal communication were positively associated with green-buying. Notably, traditional media attention, as well as interpersonal communication, moderated the influence of media dependency on green-buying behavior. In addition, attitude, descriptive norms, media dependency, Internet attention, and interpersonal communication positively predicted environmental civic engagement. Findings suggest the importance of communication factors in the adoption of the two proenvironmental behaviors.Accepted versio

Understanding Singaporeans’ pro-environmental behaviors : a theoretical expansion of the influence of presumed media influence

Using the influence of presumed media influence (IPMI) model as the theoretical framework, this study aims to explain the influence of individuals’ attention to pro-environmental media messages on their pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Specifically, we examine both direct and indirect media effects on individuals’ pro-environmental behavioral intentions, and integrate the constructs of attitudes, descriptive, subjective, and injunctive norms into the model. Furthermore, we used the expanded model to examine the influences on three dimensions of pro- environmental behavioral intentions, namely energy conservation, recycling, and civic engagement. We tested the proposed extended framework on a random sample of 1,144 Singaporeans utilizing computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).Bachelor of Communication Studie

Motivators of pro-environmental behavior : examining the underlying processes in the influence of presumed media influence model

Extending the influence of presumed media influence model, this study examined direct and indirect media influences on pro-environmental behavioral intentions. We empirically tested perceived media influence on others as a distinct and independent mediator between perceived media exposure of others and perceived social norms, using a nationally representative sample of 1,144 Singaporeans. Using structural equation modeling, influence of presumed media influence accounted for direct and indirect media effects on attitudes, social norms, and pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Perceived media influence on others was associated with behavioral intentions. Attitudes, descriptive, and subjective norms accounted further for this relationship. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.MOE (Min. of Education, S’pore)Accepted versio

Social Network Sites, Friends, and Celebrities: The Roles of Social Comparison and Celebrity Involvement in Adolescents’ Body Image Dissatisfaction

This study applies the social comparison theory to examine the effects of adolescents’ engagement in comparison with friends and celebrities on social network sites (SNSs) on (a) their body image dissatisfaction (BID) and (b) their drive to be thin (DT) or muscular (DM). The study also examines celebrity involvement as an antecedent of the outcome variables. Data were collected through a survey of 1,059 adolescents in Singapore. Regression analyses indicate that SNSs use was related to adolescents’ BID. Specifically, social comparison with friends on SNSs was significantly associated with adolescents’ BID, DT, and DM. Gender differences were also observed—social comparison with celebrities was significantly associated with BID and DT among female adolescents. Celebrity involvement was significantly associated with male BID. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed

Audience Segmentation for Campaign Design: Addressing Climate Change in Singapore

A nationally representative telephone survey (n = 1,006) was conducted to understand how different groups of Singaporeans regard the issue of climate change and their inclination toward action in dealing with it. We measured attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of the problem of climate change and the role of various stakeholders in addressing it. The data were subjected to a latent class analysis to produce three distinctive segments of the population: the concerned, the disengaged, and the passive. These segments stand in contrast to those discovered in the United States, Australia, Germany, and India and suggest different strategies for public engagement campaigns. The results also clarify the need to account for national idiosyncrasies when promoting adaptation to, or mitigation of, climate change in different parts of the world.Published versio